PHOENIX – LAWFUEL – Law News Network – Michelle Chavez, 38, of Glendale, was sentenced in Arizona District Court
on October 17, 2006 to 5 months of imprisonment, followed by 5 months home-confinement and 5 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Neil V. Wake. Michelle Chavez pleaded guilty on April 27, 2006 to Bank Fraud. The defendant was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $105,730.00 to the victim financial institution, Desert Hills Bank, as well as a $100 Special Assessment.
From on or about July 2002 through October 2004, Michelle Chavez, used her position as an operations manager at Desert Hills Bank to create 19 fictitious bank accounts. Without obtaining proper approval, she applied overdraft protection to the 19 fictitious accounts and then drew upon the accounts by transfers to her personal bank account at Desert Hills Bank. In all she transferred a total of $101,722.99 from the fictitious accounts to her personal account.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The prosecution was handled by Michelle Hamilton-Burns, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona,
Phoenix, Arizona.
CASE NUMBER: CR-06-0432-002-PHX-NVW
RELEASE NUMBER: 2006-215(Chavez)
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